Posts Tagged Financial Transactions
How to Change a Bad Credit Score Into a Good Credit Score
Jon Arnold asked:
The vast majority of consumers have an “ok” credit score. It is acceptable, but it is neither tremendously high nor tremendously low. It is not high enough where they could buy an aircraft carrier on their signature alone, but it is not bad enough where even 7-11 requires cash for a pack of gum.
This is not a bad situation to be in, if you find yourself within that majority, but with a bit of additional effort and knowledge, you can increase your credit score. What would that mean for you? Know that your credit score is being in a lot of different places today, and many more than you would think because it is not just for pure financial transactions anymore. Many car insurance companies are looking at an applicant’s credit score to determine what insurance rate to charge, where the insurance companies claim they have statistical evidence proving that people with lower credit scores file more claims. If you are looking for a new job, especially one in the higher ranks or upper management of a company, many employers are now using a candidate’s credit score as the deciding factor if all else is pretty much equal.
And of course with a higher credit score, you get the preferred loan rate when you are shopping for that new car, or a much better rate if you apply for a mortgage or go to refinance your existing mortgage, all of which can add up to hundreds and even thousands of dollars per year.
But keep in mind that raising your credit score does not happen overnight. Your credit score is a composite score based on your credit history, and a “history” or even a “trend” is not created overnight, but is seen as an established pattern that you follow.
It is probably no surprise to you that the single largest factor that will influence your credit score is your payment history. Do you pay your bills on time with at least the minimum payment each month? If you have not been doing this, now is a great time to start that trend, since this factor accounts for almost 35% of your overall credit score.
The second largest factor affecting your credit score is the total amount of all your accounts compared to your credit limit on those credit cards. If all your credit cards are near their credit limit or maxed out most of the time, this is definitely bad for your credit score. The standard rule of thumb is to keep your balance, if you carry a balance at all, to about 25-30% of your credit limit. This shows that you are using credit responsibly and will improve your credit score.
If you have old accounts that are paid off, some people say to close them and it will help your credit score. This is a myth. Those accounts, if you kept them in good standing, factor into your score and become a part of your credit history. Closing those accounts eliminates that part of your credit history which can actually lower your score.
There are many other factors that go into computing your credit score, but one of the things that you should do at least once or twice a year is get copies of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus; Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. Studies show that the vast majority of consumers have errors in their credit reports, and these errors do not auto-correct, but remain there unless you dispute them. If you do not dispute an incorrect item that is negative, your credit score is going to be calculated lower than it should be.
Take the time to handle your credit responsibly and wisely, and keep an eye on your credit report to avoid errors and incorrect data creeping in there. Doing so only takes a bit of effort and can pay off in spades for you and your financial future.
Arthur
The vast majority of consumers have an “ok” credit score. It is acceptable, but it is neither tremendously high nor tremendously low. It is not high enough where they could buy an aircraft carrier on their signature alone, but it is not bad enough where even 7-11 requires cash for a pack of gum.
This is not a bad situation to be in, if you find yourself within that majority, but with a bit of additional effort and knowledge, you can increase your credit score. What would that mean for you? Know that your credit score is being in a lot of different places today, and many more than you would think because it is not just for pure financial transactions anymore. Many car insurance companies are looking at an applicant’s credit score to determine what insurance rate to charge, where the insurance companies claim they have statistical evidence proving that people with lower credit scores file more claims. If you are looking for a new job, especially one in the higher ranks or upper management of a company, many employers are now using a candidate’s credit score as the deciding factor if all else is pretty much equal.
And of course with a higher credit score, you get the preferred loan rate when you are shopping for that new car, or a much better rate if you apply for a mortgage or go to refinance your existing mortgage, all of which can add up to hundreds and even thousands of dollars per year.
But keep in mind that raising your credit score does not happen overnight. Your credit score is a composite score based on your credit history, and a “history” or even a “trend” is not created overnight, but is seen as an established pattern that you follow.
It is probably no surprise to you that the single largest factor that will influence your credit score is your payment history. Do you pay your bills on time with at least the minimum payment each month? If you have not been doing this, now is a great time to start that trend, since this factor accounts for almost 35% of your overall credit score.
The second largest factor affecting your credit score is the total amount of all your accounts compared to your credit limit on those credit cards. If all your credit cards are near their credit limit or maxed out most of the time, this is definitely bad for your credit score. The standard rule of thumb is to keep your balance, if you carry a balance at all, to about 25-30% of your credit limit. This shows that you are using credit responsibly and will improve your credit score.
If you have old accounts that are paid off, some people say to close them and it will help your credit score. This is a myth. Those accounts, if you kept them in good standing, factor into your score and become a part of your credit history. Closing those accounts eliminates that part of your credit history which can actually lower your score.
There are many other factors that go into computing your credit score, but one of the things that you should do at least once or twice a year is get copies of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus; Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. Studies show that the vast majority of consumers have errors in their credit reports, and these errors do not auto-correct, but remain there unless you dispute them. If you do not dispute an incorrect item that is negative, your credit score is going to be calculated lower than it should be.
Take the time to handle your credit responsibly and wisely, and keep an eye on your credit report to avoid errors and incorrect data creeping in there. Doing so only takes a bit of effort and can pay off in spades for you and your financial future.
Arthur
Free Credit Report Online: Easier Way to Check Fiscal Dealing
James Peter asked:
With the emerging awareness, importance is being attached to a credit report, and as a consequence several online services providers have sprung who claim to offer them free of cost. Well, if you thought it was some kind of a trick to rope in consumers, then you are mistaken. In accordance to the Federal Law, one can access free credit report from any of the 3 credit bureaus on an annual basis. In this scenario, free credit report online could be an ideal option that one can go for to navigate through his or her reordered financial dealings.
Credit report offers an important piece of document that summarizes your finances, and assigns you a score. These scores categorize you in excellent, good, or bad credit history; depending upon which your financial standing is determined. Its significance lies more in the fact that the creditors can pull out these records as and when determining the terms and rates is required. This financial report forms the basis to analyze the state of affairs of the borrower.
If you are still not quite certain as to why you should procure this document, then, here are a few reasons:
* At times, a credit report may contain information that is incorrect or dubious. This would remain on the report until corrected. If you ignore this, there are chances that it may affect your financial situation without you ever realizing the real cause.
* It facilitates to fetch for better financial pastures. By understanding the financial situation that exists, you can chalk out the feasible options accessible in the market.
* This document can even enable the tracking of any fraudulent activities that might have been recorded. It would benefit you to maintain a constant check on your financial transactions.
Online accessibility to a free credit report can thereby be a beneficial option that could be availed from any location without actually moving from one place to another. Amidst other benefits, is that because it would be online, you can evade the thereat of some one else taking a sneak peek from your post. The applauded benefit of this approach is that it is not tagged with a price, and thereby it doesn’t hurt your budgetary parameters.
Cecil
With the emerging awareness, importance is being attached to a credit report, and as a consequence several online services providers have sprung who claim to offer them free of cost. Well, if you thought it was some kind of a trick to rope in consumers, then you are mistaken. In accordance to the Federal Law, one can access free credit report from any of the 3 credit bureaus on an annual basis. In this scenario, free credit report online could be an ideal option that one can go for to navigate through his or her reordered financial dealings.
Credit report offers an important piece of document that summarizes your finances, and assigns you a score. These scores categorize you in excellent, good, or bad credit history; depending upon which your financial standing is determined. Its significance lies more in the fact that the creditors can pull out these records as and when determining the terms and rates is required. This financial report forms the basis to analyze the state of affairs of the borrower.
If you are still not quite certain as to why you should procure this document, then, here are a few reasons:
* At times, a credit report may contain information that is incorrect or dubious. This would remain on the report until corrected. If you ignore this, there are chances that it may affect your financial situation without you ever realizing the real cause.
* It facilitates to fetch for better financial pastures. By understanding the financial situation that exists, you can chalk out the feasible options accessible in the market.
* This document can even enable the tracking of any fraudulent activities that might have been recorded. It would benefit you to maintain a constant check on your financial transactions.
Online accessibility to a free credit report can thereby be a beneficial option that could be availed from any location without actually moving from one place to another. Amidst other benefits, is that because it would be online, you can evade the thereat of some one else taking a sneak peek from your post. The applauded benefit of this approach is that it is not tagged with a price, and thereby it doesn’t hurt your budgetary parameters.
Cecil